Forest Hills/Van Ness Real Estate

Homes for sale in Washington DC's Forest Hills/Van Ness

Guide to Forest Hills / Van Ness

Though its woodland surroundings may make it seem like a secluded and slow-paced neighborhood, Forest Hills is anything but. While natural beauty and expansive parks give residents a respite from city living, there is still plenty to do around the neighborhood. Quirky hangouts and unique, modern architecture give the neighborhood its own special character, while historic sites and museums ellicit classic charm.

Forest Hills/ Van Ness on the Map

Also known as Van Ness, due to its proximity to the University of the District of Columbia’s Van Ness campus, Forest Hills is located in the northwestern quadrant of the city. To the west it is bound by Connecticut Avenue, to the east by Rock Creek Park, to the south by Van Ness Street and to the north by Broad Branch Road and 36th Street.

By Metro or Bus

Forest Hills/ Van Ness has its own metro station on the Red Line. It is also serviced by many bus lines such as the H2, H3, H4, L1, L2 and the L4. It is also quite easy to drive in this neighborhood, so there’s no need to worry if you aren’t one of those DC residents who’s ready to forsake their vehicle.

A Mix of Modern and Traditional

Compared to other DC neighborhoods, the architecture in Forest Hills is markedly modern. Houses feature large glass front windows, metal exteriors and rectangular shapes, offering an edgy aesthetic to contrast the area’s serene and leafy surroundings. Mixed in among these contemporary designs are more traditional styles such as colonials and Tudors. In the southern portion of the neighborhood, there are some reasonably priced condos and co-ops. A quiet residential neighborhood, Forest Hill’s woodsy landscape blocks out the busy buzz of the city.

Extravagant Artifacts, Flourishing Fauna and Lost History

Whether or not you are an antiques enthusiast, you will not want to miss the Hillwood Museum and Gardens, and beautifully landscaped estate featuring old jewelry, ceramics, furniture and costumes from all over the world. The museum boasts the most comprehensive collection of Russian imperial art outside of Russia, with artifacts dating back to the 17th century. The museum also features pieces from France, England and Japan. Some highlights of this impressive assortment include a wedding dress from 1935 worn by the estate’s former owner Marjorie Merriweather Post and a Russian military presentation cup from the 1830s.

Forest Hills is also the site of Fort Kearny, one of the several fortifications protecting the capital during the Civil War. Located between Rock Creek Park and Reno Park, the fort was named after Major General Philip Kearny of the Union Army who was shot and killed in 1862 at the Battle of Chantilly. Though the fort was destroyed several years after the war, this Civil War site is a spot of interest for American history buffs.

Residents also enjoy escaping to nature every once in a while to Rock Creek Park and Soapstone Valley Park. With two entrances near the Van Ness metro stop, Soapstone Valley has easy to moderate hiking trails. Following one trail down a creek into the valley, hikers can easily make their way to Rock Valley Park.

Endless Possibilities—From Publishing a Book to Playing Ping-Pong

Though this quiet neighborhood has limited commercial options, Forest Hills encompasses a stretch of Connecticut Ave that is packed with things to do.

For the casual bookworm or aspiring writer, Politics and Prose offers a literary paradise and is a DC staple. Opened in 1984 as a small store, it was purchased in 2010 by The Washington Post journalists and husband and wife team Bradley Graham and Lissa Muscatine (who also worked as a speech writer for Hillary Clinton!) with the mission of providing “superior service and unusual book choices.” In addition to a large repertoire of books, the store also offers a variety of writing classes for customers to self-publish their own books.

For classic American cuisine with a personal touch, Jake’s American Grille is the place to be. The restaurant is decked out in a naval theme, honoring the owner’s grandfather and its namesake, Jake Jablonski. Throughout the bar and dining room hang pictures showing Jablonski’s time in the navy and images of aircraft carriers where he worked. The bar has five flat screen TVs for sports enthusiasts to watch games, and the lower level, Jake’s Boiler Room, is a fully equipped game room.

Down the street is Comet Ping Pong, a pizza joint and ping-pong hall. With delicious thin crust pizza baked in a wood-burning oven, it is a casual, fun place to hang out with friends. Comet also hosts regular live music acts and open mic nights. Whether its for a laid-back first date or birthday party, locals love coming to this unique hang out.

Best of Both Worlds

Overall, Forest Hills enjoys the seclusion from DC’s main hub of activity while still having good restaurants, an active nightlife and historical attractions. Prospective residents can also choose from classic style homes or more modern designs. No matter your interests, you will find something to love here.

Real Estate Market Stats

Show data by:

All
Detached
Townhome
Condo Style

Basic Stats Overview

Data Source: MRIS Listing Data, Last Updated: 12/17/2018

Y/Y

Homes for Sale

17

+58.8%

Months Inventory

6.38

+88.2%

Contracts Pending

10

+40.0%

Solds: 90 Day

25

-4.0%

Average List Price/Sold Price

99.44%

+2.9%

Active/Pending Ratio

1.70

+31.2%

Average Price

Y/Y

Active

$729,365

+40.2%

Pending

$493,417

-65.3%

90 Day Sold

$607,616

+25.6%

Median Price

Active

$369,900

-31.1%

Pending

$437,000

+4.2%

90 Day Sold

$489,000

+16.7%

Days on Market

Active

105.29

+68.4%

Pending

61.00

+65.9%

90 Day Sold

52.36

+54.2%

Y/Y

Homes for Sale

3

N/A

Months Inventory

9.00

N/A

Contracts Pending

1

0.0%

Solds: 90 Day

3

+66.7%

Average List Price/Sold Price

99.91%

+17.4%

Active/Pending Ratio

3.00

N/A

Average Price

Y/Y

Active

$2,411,667

N/A

Pending

$1,047,500

-176.4%

90 Day Sold

$1,555,000

-6.1%

Median Price

Active

$1,785,000

N/A

Pending

$1,047,500

-176.4%

90 Day Sold

$1,595,000

-3.4%

Days on Market

Active

145.67

N/A

Pending

73.50

+83.7%

90 Day Sold

66.33

-59.8%

Y/Y

Homes for Sale

0

N/A

Months Inventory

0.00

N/A

Contracts Pending

0

N/A

Solds: 90 Day

2

N/A

Average List Price/Sold Price

100.33%

N/A

Active/Pending Ratio

0.00

N/A

Average Price

Y/Y

Active

$0

N/A

Pending

$0

N/A

90 Day Sold

$915,000

N/A

Median Price

Active

$0

N/A

Pending

$0

N/A

90 Day Sold

$915,000

N/A

Days on Market

Active

0.00

N/A

Pending

0.00

N/A

90 Day Sold

5.50

N/A

Y/Y

Homes for Sale

14

+50.0%

Months Inventory

6.46

+87.6%

Contracts Pending

9

+44.4%

Solds: 90 Day

20

-25.0%

Average List Price/Sold Price

98.99%

-0.3%

Active/Pending Ratio

1.56

+10.3%

Average Price

Y/Y

Active

$368,871

-18.3%

Pending

$424,156

+5.7%

90 Day Sold

$434,770

+7.0%

Median Price

Active

$347,950

-39.4%

Pending

$391,500

+10.6%

90 Day Sold

$472,500

+15.3%

Days on Market

Active

96.64

+65.6%

Pending

59.44

+62.0%

90 Day Sold

54.95

+62.3%

What does the most expensive home in Forest Hills / Van Ness look like?

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